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portugal to eymet

August 4, 2012

Ay-Ab8qCEAEq0u3.jpgWOOF or should that be Bom Dia! as they say in Portugal. Biff here with a little update and apology for the lack of blog entries recently. Not only have I had house guests to entertain, which means lots of shoes to steal and bags to poke around in, but I've also acquired a second human pet (the niece of pet No 1).

Anyway, I''ve been having a marvellous time in Portugal, admiring Gothic arches – those Portuguese certainly know how to build a church – and dipping my paws in the surf. Tomorrow, we are driving back through Spain, which is not the most hospitable country to four legged folk, it has to be said – and then up to the Dordogne for our book signing at the Cave d'Eymet this Thursday, August 9th (see below for details and invite).

In addition to the main event, Lynne, the lady who runs the B&B where we are staying, La Maison Ancienne, is throwing a little tea party for us, and fellow author Peter Hoskins, from 3.00 - 5.00 pm on Wednesday 8th (for which she is making a nominal charge of €2).

In the meantime, I’m back by popular demand on the Paris Breakfasts blog, where you can see some excellent new pictures of me, out and about and socialising. If you’re interested, you can also read about how my human pet landed us in hot water (again!) with the French police at here. Hope to see you at Eymet later this week.

comments (10)

1. Posted by marilyn on August 7, 2012 4:59 AM

Biff! what a delightful discovery you and your human are! i love dogs, france, and reading, & now that i have just finished your human's last book i can look forward to reading your blog for more snippets of your life in rural france. (see if you can get that human to work on another new book, PLEASE!)

2. Posted by Lilliebo on August 7, 2012 8:51 AM

Biff,

Sounds as though you and your human had a lovely time in Portugal.

x

3. Posted by Alan Brown on August 10, 2012 1:31 PM

Hallo Karen
Having read your article about dining out in Poitou Charentes I
feel sorry for you as you have clearly missed all the best
restaurants around here. I do not doubt that your self-indulgent,
condescending attitude goes down well with the Prada loving
social climbers you claim to have left behind in UK but it does
not accurately reflect the experience of life in PC for most of
us enjoying it here. Still, as I was told once by a
well-respected journalist working for the same newspaper which
published your article, "don't let the truth get in the way of a
good story".
Alan Brown/alan@alanchris.net

4. Posted by parisbreakfast on August 10, 2012 5:05 PM

Darling Biff,
You have been missed!
And you're looking very Portugese here.
As for the unpleasent 'gentleman's' comment above refering to your quite accurate article in the Telegraph on rural coking in EC France (or is it WC France) aside from the divine meals we cooked ourselves and eating at the British Mad Hatter, the meals out were niente to write home about.
Basically meh I'm afraid.
I notice he doesn't care to share any of his choice restos with us.
Quelle dommage.
Btw I do not own a Prada bag, ahem
Hugs
Carolg

5. Posted by Melanie Cory on August 12, 2012 1:44 PM

I just wanted to say a big thank you for your time last Thursday in Eymet. It was a pleasure to meet both you and Biff. We look forward to reading your next book and I will be in touch soon. I hope you had a good journey home.
Love
Mel xx

6. Posted by tricia on August 12, 2012 1:49 PM

Following your pet's twitter comments it sounds like you have all been having a lovely time, although the drive through Spain sounds v.v. scary. Bet you're glad you weren't driving Biff. I'm sure you have both given the niece some wonderful memories that she will treasure forever.

7. Posted by Shelley on August 18, 2012 2:15 AM

I’ve devoured all three of the “Tout” books within the past couple weeks while laying out by the pool – what wonderful books, they made fantastic summer reading – I couldn’t put them down. Hence, I am overly tan to say the least! I especially liked the little tidbit in “Tout Allure” referencing Adam Ant – how funny, I was crazy about him in my teens so it brought a little smile to my face. Having just finished “Tout Soul” today, I was really moved to tears by the last several chapters and Afterword. I did not expect an ending like that and was heartened and uplifted by the closing words on having true happiness and helping others. They'll be words to reference and revisit undoubtedly in the future.

Very much looking forward to the next book and perhaps, if we’re lucky, maybe a book by Biff about his adventures too!?

Warmest thoughts especially at this time of year, shelley

8. Posted by Keith Eckstein on August 21, 2012 6:49 PM

Hi Biff

Hope your human pet is behaving herself and not getting into too much trouble with the Gendarmes (she does it on purpose, you know; because she like men in uniforms!)

If you ever find yourself up this way (that's to say - rather medieval and totally backward Brittany), you ought to pop in and say hello - you'll find it a much nicer place than Portugal and Spain (we actually wash more than once a month here in Brittany; but, then again, we've got the rain?) and I'd be only to happy to show the best places for rabbit chasing and important things like that!

All the best

Keith

9. Posted by Vicks on August 23, 2012 11:35 PM

Just finished Tout Soul and bawled my eyes out on the tube - amazing writing from a clearly lovely person. Always found your relocation story interesting and inspirational and this last one really showed bravery and heart that you rarely see. More please - will never bore of your story and will hope for tales of the happiness you clearly deserve. X

10. Posted by Debbie on November 28, 2012 9:17 AM

Such as shame that the man above has to post negative comments re. your lifestyle comments - there's nothing condescending about your writing Karen just true to the french way of life - i love your writing and have, over the summer read all your books - and enjoyed them all! I was truly heartbroken when I finished Tout Soul because I was hoping that it would have a happy ending - but I've been thinking about it and sadly it's real life and not fiction!I have a picture of your french life in the Pitou-Charente as I also spent every summer as a child in the Dordogne
in a ramshackle old farmhouse with no running water, holes in the roof and no electricity - it was heaven, and I have always loved the french rural way of life and have promised myself that oneday i too will buy a little house in France and enjoy the way of life and the people and the cafe culture and the food and the
seasons and some many other wonderful things that is so french!! I look forward to your next book.X

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